One Mission is a childcare foundation dedicated to helping out pediatric cancer patients and their families during this hard time. This foundation was built because of the struggles and challenges the founders faced with their son at only 7 months old. One Mission has grown across the country because of the Buzz-Off Event, which they hold every year at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA. In June, I had the privilege of donating my time to help photograph the event for the fourth year in a row. I had the pleasure of being the main photographer this year which was a HUGE HONOR! This was a big job! Volunteers are shaving their heads for children with cancer. It’s an emotional and proud moment for them. They worked really hard to raise a lot of money! Capturing these moments is REALLY important. I want to thank CC Pelland of Made In Stills, Stephanie Krist of Stephanie Rita Photography, and Dawn Temple of Dawn Temple Photography for donating your time for this great event.
A huge thank you to the founders for creating this amazing event! It keeps getting bigger and bigger each year. Enjoy a few photos from this inspirational day!
If you would like to donate or go bald for kids with cancer please check out the websites below. Hope to see you next year at the Buzz-Off Event!!!
I was really excited but nervous to plan Vivienne’s first birthday.My full time job was on high demand for a while which is fine but that meant other things needed to be put on hold.I had just photographed a big event for One Mission.I was excited to plan her birthday party but just couldn’t do all of it at the same time.We picked a date two weeks beforehand, which meanta short period for planning.We wanted to have it down at the beach house, but it was iffy because of weather.We weren’t going to go overboard and I had already been brainstorming.We invited our closest family and friends.Nothing big at all.I went with a confetti and mint colored theme.Surprised?HEHE
If you have been following along with my journey you know I LOVE/have a problem when it comes to the color mint.You will also know that I have been photographing Vivienne every week since she was born.It felt right to showcase all those weekly photos and see how much she has grown up over the last 52 weeks.I found these confetti balloons at Old Navy.I know right, so random.I saw them when I was waiting to check out.I tried ordering a cake at a local bakery at home, but the timing didn’t work out.I knew I wanted a mint colored 6” cake, but I asked for it to be a 3 tier cake so it was a little bit higher.I googled for bakeries near the beach house and recognized a bakery name.I had photographed one of my brides cake from this bakery which I ended up choosing.Let me just say they NAILED IT!It was EXACTLY how I had pictured it!Thank you to Veronica’s Sweetcakes!
We had so much fun at Vivienne’s birthday.She was showered with some amazing gifts.She loved her baby she got from her cousin Sofie!Thank you to everyone who helped with her party!Enjoy some of my favorites!
I can’t believe my baby is 12 months old. Where did the time go?? Before I dive into the updates, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for reading her monthly blog posts. I’ve gotten a lot of feedback and everyone loves reading her updates. I don’t know what I’ll be doing after 12 months, but I will figure out something that will work. It was a LOT of work but I do not regret taking weekly photos of my baby for her first year. It was worth it! Do I think I’ll still take weekly photos, let’s be honest, probably not. But monthly yes! Now onto the good stuff…
We have a walker! She is walking more and more every day. It’s so fun to see how excited she gets when we applaud her when she goes for a long time. I’m super happy and secretly hoping her hips from the hip dysplasia are good too. She is progressing as she should and learning so much! She knows where her tummy is and what her shoes and feet are. I ask her where is your tummy and she pulls her shirt or touches it. She can still eat her footsies which she hasn’t done in a while. Whenever you say her name, she sticks her tongue out hehe.
I want us to remember all the things that have happened over the past four weeks. Vivienne, here are a few memories from month ten:
Still teething! You got your 6th tooth! YAY!
You of course still love to eat, now you are taking bites all by yourself
You love to have legitimate conversations with people, sing and scream
You visited mommy and daddy at work at the beginning of the month, everyone loved seeing you
You celebrated your first Memorial Day weekend at the beach
You curly Q’s – you definitely got mama’s hair for sure
You love playing on your new water table
You laugh whenever you hear someone sneeze or cough
You love the beach- first time you put your hand in the sand and ate it. The next time you picked up a rock and tried to eat it. Hopefully next time you won’t eat any of it
You make it known when you are upset or not getting your way
You love your shoes- sometimes you get so excited you want to hold them and won’t let us put them on
Here are a few of Vivienne’s favorite things:
You LOVE your ride-along car ride toy, especially with Grampy/Abuelo
You LOVE the beach. The hot sand, freezing cold water, nothing phases you. That’s my girl! We are going to spend a lot of time at the beach so I’m super happy you like it so far
You love your shoes and get excited when we put them on you because we are going outside which you love!
Vivienne, I can’t believe you are one year old. You’re a little girl! You will always be my baby and I’m super happy I’m your mommy. We have so much fun together. I do want time to slow down, but I’m excited to see you grow and learn!
xoxo Jen Araya
50 Weeks – this is a family tradition to see on the duck at the beach house!
51 Weeks and Happy Father’s Day!
52 Weeks/12 Months/1 Year – I forgot the blocks I usually use.
Linda Barry -Oh my gosh I love that photo of her in the beach house! these are all wonderful! Us ending Lily’s monthly photos is what led us to our “Day In the Life” project!ReplyCancel
We are getting closer and closer to Vivienne walking in her eleventh month. She has been standing in her crib and pack n play. She’s also standing up and letting go for decent time periods. When she realizes she’s doing it, she chickens out and sits. She holds our hands and walks. She did take her first official step while the three of us were home the night before Mother’s Day. One of my biggest fears is missing out on these big milestones, BUT she knows. Vivienne knew mommy and daddy were home and she took a step and half for us. That’s my girl!
Vivienne continues to say hi and go back and forth. She now says “this.” She is understanding words and actions. She can high five! She’s getting into everything, constantly keeping us on our toes.
Sean had a great idea and put her hair in pigtails and she looks SO CUTE! We call it Daddy’s Salon. She does this duck face which just makes you laugh!
I want us to remember all the things that have happened over the past four weeks. Vivienne, here are a few memories from month ten:
Still teething! No new teeth yet, still got 5 so far.
You say “Hi” all of the time. It’s now a game. We go back and forth with each other saying hi
You’re cruising all over the place, soon we won’t be able to keep up with you
You laugh when we laugh
You still LOVE your food!
You love climbing up on things
Your duck face was hard to capture with my camera but I finally got it and it makes me laugh all of the time I see it.
Walking while holding our hands. Your legs are getting stronger to walk soon
You stand up in your crib and pack n play. One time I saw you jumping in your crib.
You do this lip smacking which sounds like a kiss sometimes
You say hi when we are on the phone
Pigtails are to DIE FOR, SO FREAKING CUTE!!!
Here are a few of Vivienne’s favorite things:
You love READING books! Mommy and Daddy have memorized a few of your favorite books
You love your shoes
You love to drink water out of your sippy cup
I know I keep saying it but time is absolutely flying by. You are a young little girl now, I can’t believe you are almost one. Mommy may not stop crying. I love you!
They got married at the Ashland Warren Conference Center one year ago. Kayla and Emery thought it was best to go back there for their first anniversary as a married couple. It was fun to hear about their big day and to photograph them in the same spots. Kayla saw an idea on Pinterest to wear her wedding veil again. I said WHY NOT! I LOVE IT! Hey you spent the money on it, why not wear it again. Well, these are some of my FAVORITE with the glowing sun setting in the background. It was so much fun to roam around the property to find lots of hidden gems.
We then ventured across the street to the open field where these is only and I mean ONLY one tree with white flowers on it, and it was so worth it. We had to walk through some tall grass and let’s just say that we saw areas where there could have been snakes and other animals. I was thankful Emery was there and I told them to not judge me if I ended up screaming and running away. lol. I don’t do bugs if you didn’t know that.
Kayla and Emery, thank you so much for choosing me to photograph you! It was a beautiful gorgeous sunset the night of your portrait session! Enjoy some of my favorites!
